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In a way, Baylor provided free advertising for the University of the Incarnate Word. A year ago on the dot, UIW announced that it had scheduled a game against the Bears in Waco in 2019.

Be honest: How many of you actually thought that was a real school and not something made up by The Onion? People rushed to their search engines to learn more about the mysterious Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program in San Antonio, Texas, with the quirky name.

It also shed light on what has become a running joke: Baylor, despite becoming a Big 12 power, doesn't take on anyone of note in nonconference play. Last season, Baylor played SMU, Northwestern State and Buffalo, resulting in three easy wins. At least in part, that cost the Bears a shot at the College Football Playoff, as they never cracked the top four in the CFP standings.

Compare that to eventual national champion Ohio State, which rose to the No. 4 spot in the final rankings even though it lost an early-season game to Virginia Tech. The Hokies weren't some powerhouse, either, winning just six regular season games.

For one year at least, the playoff selection committee showed it would rather a team lose to a Power Five opponent than beat a nobody. Does this mean it's time for a widespread ban, officially or unofficially, on FCS opponents?

What ultimately hurts teams like Baylor as much as the actual nonconference slate is perceived effort. Baylor isn't the only offender when it comes to scheduling FCS teams. It is, however, the most recognizable and easiest to attack.

According to FBSchedules.com, the Bears play an FCS opponent in each of the next five years. That isn't the worst thing in the world by itself, but the only respectable nonconference opponent on paper in the next eight years is Duke in 2017 and 2018.

Simply put: There's no balance.

Is Baylor even trying? According to athletic director Ian McCaw, there have been talks with other nonconference opponents. The specifics of them, however, remain unclear.

“You have to look at the entire schedule,” McCaw told Max Olson of ESPN.com in November. “The SEC schools, for example, have some of their weaker nonconference opponents late in the season. If you look at their entire nonconference schedule, the teams look very similar to some of the teams we’ve played.”

Nonconference scheduling is formulaic, though. That's true regardless of conference or number of conference games. As long as there's at least one difficult nonconference game, the rest doesn't matter as much.

Take Oregon, for example. In 2015, the Ducks will play FCS opponent Eastern Washington—as a side story, Eastern Washington was the former home for new Oregon transfer quarterback Vernon Adams—and Michigan State.

Yes, scheduling is a risk/reward move, especially when made years in advance. For all anyone knows, Michigan State could be awful next season. Chances are, though, it won't be. If Oregon is in the playoff conversation, it'll be because of that game, not Eastern Washington.

Perception has weight in the scheduling world, even if it's misplaced. Last year, the ACC and SEC announced they would require members to play at least one nonconference Power Five opponent every year. However, that opponent could be a basement-dweller like Kansas, Purdue or Colorado and still satisfy said requirement.

Ultimately, what's the difference between those programs and, say, FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, which just won its fourth straight national championship? In fact, the Bison should be considered a more formidable opponent at the moment.

The point being, not all opponents—whether FBS or FCS, Power Five or mid-major—are created equally. To place them into categories defined by worthiness is a dangerous line to walk.

Furthermore, games against FCS teams may not always be the most fun to watch, but they have a purpose. Cupcake games provide money for the smaller programs and a valuable seventh (or sometimes eighth) home game for the bigger program.

There may be a day when games against FCS opponents disappear, but it's not happening anytime soon. That's because they're not a detriment to a team's playoff hopes so long as there is at least one solid nonconference game to balance it out.

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand.

Golden and his staff have also gotten off to quick starts in the 2017 and 2018 classes.

How have the ‘Canes done it?

The answer lies in the same way the program’s dynasty teams were built.

Of the ‘Canes 18 commitments in the 2016 class, 12 are from players who are from a trio of counties—Dade, Broward and Palm Beach—that are in close proximity to Miami’s campus in Coral Gables.

The nine combined commitments that Miami has in the 2017 and 2018 classes all hail from the same trio of counties in South Florida.

Larry Blustein, who has covered recruiting for 45 years in the South Florida area and currently does so for SouthFloridaHighSchoolSports.com, explains that Miami’s newfound backyard success is due to a combination of factors.

The first thing Golden and his staff have done is to get more support locally from the high school coaches and mentors in the South Florida area.

New Hurricanes receivers coach Kevin Beard, who also played wideout for the Hurricanes from 1999-2003, explained in a radio interview with WQAM 560 (via Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post) that Miami needed to mend the relationship with the South Florida prep football community.

“I want them to be heard,” Beard told WQAM. “Once that happens, things will definitely start changing a whole lot faster. The community will start getting back to being for us and not against us because of what the record is. They’ll see we’re making moves in the right direction.”

Blustein agrees and said that the vibes toward the program have changed recently.

“What has happened was that there was a little change here in the last two months or so,” Blustein said. “On signing day, a lot of kids were shuffling off to Alabama and FSU and not staying at home. The guys in the community got together and decided to listen more to Miami and hear them out."

Blustein notes that most kids in the nation’s most fertile recruiting territories have grown up fans of The U—which makes staying at home an easy sell in most cases.

However, given Golden’s struggles since taking over the program five years ago, there’s been an exodus in terms of the top talent leaving the area to go to schools such as Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, etc.

Golden drew his share of criticism for that from alums and the people involved with the recruiting scene in the area.

“This year, [Golden] took crap from all of the alumni,” Blustein said. “Jon Beason put it the best when he said that by knocking Al Golden down, what you are doing is hurting your school. If you tell kids don’t go there, you are hurting your alma mater. So why would you do that? You have to back your guy as long as he’s employed by the school. Once he’s not, then we will back the next person. A lot of people took heed to that and took a couple of steps back and realized that he had a point.”

Blustein also said that another thing helping Miami’s cause is the fact that the program’s former stars are still coming back to work out with the current players—something that today’s prep stars notice and look up to.

“One thing that separates Miami from a lot of schools is that the former players aren’t pretenders,” Blustein notes. “They really do come back every year. Jimmy Graham was in the weight room here one day after being traded to Seattle. Lamar Miller is out here with the guys. When the high school kids start seeing that stuff, that’s what the tradition was built on and I think that’s what will eventually get them out of this rut.”

Golden’s staff has also done a better job of getting on top talent early.

“A lot of these kids, like Sam Bruce and Dionte Mullins and the 2017 kids in Waynmon Steed and Tyler Dunning, they are players as good as you will find nationally,” Blustein said. “They are absolute beasts, those type of kids, now they are getting the type of kids that Alabama, USC, Ohio State and FSU are coming down here and getting.”

As for the ‘Canes looking to put a fence around their backyard, Blustein said that it’s a strategy that Golden simply had to master in order to turn things around for the Miami program.

“They have no choice,” Blustein said. “[Golden] is in year five. He hasn’t really won a significant game yet. His best win last year was against Duke. In his situation, it’s like he’s facing a 4th-and-10 with one play left and he has to score. The quickest way to turn things around is by locking up the top talent in your backyard.”

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

More than three months after leading his high school squad on a state title run that featured 40 touchdown tosses, quarterback Kare' Lyles was still in search of an FBS offer.

It turns out, all he needed to do was head home.

The 6'1", 215-pound passer picked up an offer last week while on a visit to Wisconsin, a campus that helped create some of his fondest childhood memories.

"I was reminiscing about all the time we spent there when my dad would take us," Lyles said. "I used to run around the field picturing myself being a Badger."

Those imaginative visions came to fruition Thursday when Wisconsin formally extended an offer to the in-state product:

Less than 72 hours later, Lyles became a member of the Badgers' 2016 recruiting class.

Though he's now known as the offensive leader at Arizona powerhouse Saguaro High School, Lyles spent the majority of his upbringing in the Madison area. His father, Kevin Lyles, played for Wisconsin from 1993-1996, lining up alongside current Badgers offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph.

"My mom put together a book filled with stuff from his playing days in Madison, so that gave me a chance to understand the history and tradition there," Lyles said.

His family relocated to the Southwest in April 2012. Instead of making his mark at Middleton High School in Wisconsin, it set the stage for him to rise up with Saguaro in Scottsdale.

Lyles spent his underclassman seasons serving as a backup to eventual Cal signee Luke Rubenzer before stepping up as full-time starter in 2014.

The results were extremely impressive.

He completed 71 percent of his pass attempts for 3,420 yards, 40 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Lyles capped off a 14-0 campaign with 270 yards and two scores in the state championship game.

"I'll be coming in with a chip on my shoulder because I do feel like I've been overlooked," Lyles said.

He idolizes Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who entered college at N.C. State as a largely unheralded 3-star recruit (a rating Lyles shares). Wilson finished his collegiate career at Wisconsin, where he flourished under the direction of Paul Chryst, who served as offensive coordinator.

Chryst returned to Madison as head coach in December after a three-year stint at Pittsburgh.

"Coach Chryst is a quarterback guru," Lyles said. "He's had a lot of success with the position and you can see the kind of intelligence he provides players with while they're learning the offense and studying film. He's the kind of guy you can trust and someone who motivates you to work hard."

The collection of current NFL quarterbacks who recently worked with Chryst in college includes Wilson, Scott Tolzien (Green Bay Packers) and Tom Savage (Houston Texans).

He inherits a Badgers depth chart with senior Joel Stave as starter, so the void at quarterback will be a key point of interest in Madison this time next year. Lyles, the lone 2016 Wisconsin commit handpicked by this coaching regime, believes he can become an immediate factor.

"I found the right fit for me at Wisconsin," he said. "Based on talking with Coach Chryst, I should have an opportunity to compete in 2016. I'm going to be focused on using my tools and competitiveness to try and take over the starting job. I have a lot of confidence in what I can do at the next level."

His younger brother, Kayden, accompanied him on the trip. The Saguaro sophomore is rated No. 1 nationally among 2017 offensive guards in 247Sports' composite rankings and already holds double-digit offers, including Wisconsin.

"I'd love to have him come up to join me and we'll definitely have those talks," Lyles said. "I feel like it would be a perfect opportunity for him, but he has a lot of options some guys don't have. He's a big-time recruit and I know he'll make the right decision for him."

Another Lyles family member in Madison would certainly boost Chryst's recruiting efforts. He shared an emotional moment with Kare' and his father when the quarterback committed Sunday.

"My dad was thrilled; he pretty much got teary-eyed," Lyles said. "Coach Chyrst was pumped up too. He jumped out of his chair and gave me a hug. It was a great experience. The excitement I felt was something special."

Set to enter a second season as Saguaro's starter, he feels relieved in knowing where his future lies in football. Although Lyles is heading exactly where he wants to be, a lack of interest from other programs will always be a part of his motivation.

"No matter how much I feel overlooked, I tell myself to have a 5-star work ethic and 5-star mentality with everything I do, on the field or in the weight room," he said. "My whole thing is 'Make them notice'. That's what I tell myself. That's what I tell my teammates. That's the mindset I'll bring to Wisconsin."

The Irish were improbable winners over LSU in the Music City Bowl. Then the Irish won the offseason by getting potential first-round NFL draft pick Ronnie Stanley to return for his senior season along with veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Day.

Add in a talented 24-man recruiting class and the graduate transfer of Cal safety Avery Sebastian, and when the Irish take the field, Brian Kelly will have a team that should look more like the group that raced out to a 6-0 start in 2014 than the one that lost five of its final six regular-season contests.

With a new coaching staff led by the addition of offensive coordinator Mike Sanford, and a quarterback battle between Everett Golson and Malik Zaire sure to take center stage, let's get you ready for spring practice.

What to Watch on Offense

We can talk about changes along the offensive line or the depth chart at tight end, but all eyes will be on Golson and Zaire, the two Irish quarterbacks who will be working with Sanford for the first time.

Serving as both the new coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Sanford will demand perfection from both starting candidates, especially after mistakes and turnovers last season doomed the most prolific Irish offense of the Kelly era in South Bend.

If you're expecting a starter to be named out of spring, you'll be disappointed. There's likely to be a ton of installation this spring, with Kelly's spread offense getting an infusion of new ideas from an outsider for the first time in nearly a decade.

From a pragmatic point of view, declaring a victor doesn't make much sense, either. With Golson capable of transferring after he earns his degree in May, calling the race for Zaire would all but book Golson's one-way ticket out of town.

Whoever wins the starting job will be piloting an offense that should be one of the best in the country. Even with the transfer of Matt Hegarty, the offensive line looks to be stacked.

Junior running backs Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant will also get a lift from Sanford's arrival, with Folston ready to be a star and Bryant having shown flashes, as well.

At tight end, the Irish return just one catch for seven yards after Ben Koyack departed. But a deep and explosive receiving corps led by All-American candidate Will Fuller could line up playmakers four or five wide, leaving the tight ends to be, well, tight ends.

As a coordinator at Boise State, Sanford's offenses averaged 494 yards per game. The personnel he'll be coaching in South Bend is better at just about every position.

So while the quarterback battle will take up most of the discussion, the Irish are loaded across the entire offense.

What to Watch on Defense

After Notre Dame started the season as one of the premier defensive units in the country, coordinator Brian VanGorder's stock plummeted after a hot start led to seven straight games giving up 30 or more points.

To be clear, injuries played a large part in that fall. But so did some major deficiencies.

The Irish defense couldn't slow down an uptempo offense. After North Carolina torched the Irish for 43 points on Oct. 11, the word was out.

And while Notre Dame's third-down defense succeeded in utilizing exotic sub-packages and specialists early in the season, the Irish were toothless when a team moved too quickly to allow VanGorder to substitute.

Injuries will still carry over to spring. Team MVP Joe Schmidt is still recovering from a broken fibula suffered against Navy on Nov. 1. Jarron Jones is out as he recovers from Lisfranc surgery. Meanwhile, safety Drue Tranquill is recovering from a torn ACL.

But after a young group learned on the fly throughout a difficult November, spring should show off a jump-start in development, with unproven players being the beneficiaries of early playing time, even if it produced some ugly results.

The personnel is also a reason for optimism. The entire front four will return, with Isaac Rochell looking like another potential standout. New defensive line coach Keith Gilmore will spend the spring trying to find a pass-rusher out of an inexperienced but talented group.

The linebacking corps already has a star in Jaylon Smith. Paired with Schmidt (who outplayed Smith when he was healthy), the Irish have a one-two punch that's among the best in the country. And the candidates for the third spot are both talented and varied, with new linebackers coach Mike Elston capable of playing 2013 starter Jarrett Grace, freshman All-American Nyles Morgan or returning starter James Onwualu.

The depth in the secondary isn't ideal. Safeties Max Redfield and Elijah Shumate have no choice but to perform. Former Irish All-American and NFL Pro Bowler Todd Lyght will take over coaching responsibilities with a fresh start likely needed. VanGorder will spend plenty of time with the back end this spring, as well.

At cornerback, Cole Luke is another ascending player, and he is coming off an excellent season against elite competition. And while the Irish lost fifth-year transfer Cody Riggs, they'll most likely welcome back KeiVarae Russell this spring, an upgrade at a position where Riggs performed very well.

With opposing coaches having a year of tape on VanGorder, Notre Dame's scheme won't surprise anyone like it did last year. So the Irish will have to show that their early success last season wasn't smoke and mirrors.

Players to Keep an Eye On

Is this the year that Max Redfield turns into a star? After a mostly anonymous freshman season that only included a start in the Pinstripe Bowl, Redfield's up-and-down sophomore campaign was a disappointment for many.

But before Harrison Smith turned into a first-round NFL draft pick, he had a permanent place in the doghouse as a first- and second-year player. And while an epic body count didn't allow Redfield to stay in that doghouse last November, a 14-tackle performance against LSU ended his 2014 season on a high note.

We've looked at the redshirt freshmen who will have a chance to earn a job. They include offensive linemen Quenton Nelson and Alex Bars, who will vie for the open job up front after Matt Hegarty announced his transfer.

On defense, Jonathan Bonner and Jhonny Williams will each have a chance to help an ailing pass rush.

While he's certainly no newcomer, linebacker Jarrett Grace deserves your attention. After opening the 2013 season as the heir apparent to Manti Te'o, Grace's career was sent off course after a horrific leg injury suffered in the Shamrock Series game against Arizona State.

Grace broke his leg in multiple places, an injury that looked career-threatening. He suffered a setback when he underwent surgery last spring to relieve some pain. After spending much of last year just learning how to run again, Grace will be back on the field competing for a job.

There would be no better story than Grace's successful return to the field in 2015.

Coach Kelly's Toughest Task

After seeing quarterbacks Dayne Crist, Gunner Kiel and Andrew Hendrix transfer after not winning starting jobs, Kelly knows firsthand what an unscheduled departure does to the most important depth chart on the roster.

So as a quarterback battle between Golson and Zaire commences, balancing what's best for the team in both the short and long term will be interesting to watch.

In Golson, Kelly has a quarterback who has spent two seasons in the starting lineup—no quarterback has started three for Kelly.

Golson showed the ability to manage the game and his turnovers as a redshirt freshman in 2012. He was also among the top playmakers in college football last season. But after finishing 101st in turnovers in 2014, it's up to Golson (with Sanford's help) to eradicate those mistakes, or he'll spend the season on the bench.

In Zaire, Kelly has the leader he's craved at the position. After taking the majority of the snaps against LSU and leading the Irish to an emotional victory, Zaire proved that he could win against an elite SEC defense.

But Zaire still has some rough spots as a passer—playing garbage time against USC and handling a limited playbook against the Tigers was hardly a full course load.

Crist and Hendrix departed after the writing was already on the wall. Kiel's departure forced Tommy Rees back into the starting lineup in 2013, when Golson was suspended for the season.

There's a blueprint for the Irish winning with both quarterbacks playing a key role. Urban Meyer, when coaching the Florida Gators, utilized a similar plan with veteran Chris Leak and sledgehammer Tim Tebow. Kelly basically did the same with Tony Pike and Zach Collaros at Cincinnati.

Even with a difficult schedule, there are great expectations for the 2015 Irish. To reach them, Kelly needs both Golson and Zaire in uniform.

Was South Carolina's 7-6 record in 2014 a sign of impending doom, or just a one-year anomaly that can be corrected with some minor tweaks in the offseason?

That question will begin to be answered on Tuesday when the Gamecocks open spring practice.

Holes litter the roster on both sides of the ball in Columbia, as head coach Steve Spurrier and his staff look to rebuild the offensive line, find a new starting quarterback, replace star running back Mike Davis and fix a defensive line and secondary that were wildly inconsistent a year ago.

What should you look for this spring out of South Carolina?

What to Watch on Offense

South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper is a bona fide star who shines as a receiver, returner, running back and changeup quarterback. If you ask him to go shoot a 68 at Augusta National, he could probably do that, too.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that it's the only good news.

Connor Mitch, South Carolina's most experienced quarterback and the No. 1 passer on the pre-spring depth chart according to GoGamecocks.com, only has six career pass attempts. Brandon Wilds and David Williams are talented running backs but have only shown flashes of brilliance throughout their respective careers. Shamier Jeffery is a veteran receiver, but can he become a true threat opposite Cooper and take some pressure off South Carolina's superstar?

There are questions all over the offense, which are compounded by injuries up front that will keep right tackle Brandon Shell and left tackle Mike Matulis out for the spring, according to Josh Kendall and David Cloninger of GoGamecocks.com. Matulis is a versatile veteran who is moving from center to tackle, which further complicates things up front.

As GamecockCentral.com notes, there's a youth movement up front:

Does Spurrier need to name a quarterback this spring? No, but he has to at least develop a rough draft of the pecking order. Does one running back need to step up? No, but at least one contender needs to look like a back who can run for 1,200 yards.

What to Watch on Defense

Where should we begin?

Jon Hoke was brought in to supplement Lorenzo Ward as the new co-defensive coordinator of the Gamecocks, and the work that the duo must do this offseason is equivalent to the pile of paperwork on Milton's desk when he moves to the basement in Office Space.

Up front, the defensive line has to do a better job. The Gamecocks finished last season with an SEC-worst 14 sacks, gave up an SEC-worst 6.22 yards per play and finished with the second-worst rush defense in the conference (212.23 yards per game).

Gerald Dixon, Gerald Dixon, Jr. and Phillip Dukes are veterans who enter spring as starters, with newcomer Marquavius Lewis joining them fresh out of junior college. Will Lewis provide the spark off the edge that the Gamecocks so desperately need? If he does this spring, it will help the entire defense play with more consistency.

At the back end, the secondary got torched early and often in 2015, and many of its key members are back. If you're a South Carolina fan, you hope that those players learned lessons from those struggles and take them into consideration during the 2015 offseason.

T.J. Gurley is an ultra-versatile safety who moved over to play on the strong side this spring, D.J. Smith got plenty of playing time last year as a freshman, corners Wesley Green and Chris Lammons are loaded with potential and Rico McWilliams has one cornerback spot locked down.

It's a secondary that has potential, and one way to realize it is for the big uglies up front to get pressure and make the secondary's job easier. If those pieces of the puzzle begin to come together this spring, it will be a good sign that 2014 was an anomaly.

Freshman to Keep an Eye on

Redshirt freshman cornerback Wesley Green.

The native of Lithonia, Georgia, was a 4-star prospect in the class of 2014, but he sat last season out while adjusting to life as a college football player despite being a contender for playing time early, as Wes Mitchell of GamecockCountry.com noted last summer:

He's contending for playing time this spring with McWilliams and Lammons and has the talent to be a star for the Gamecocks. At 5'10" and 175 pounds, he's a little undersized, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in speed and quickness.

There's definitely a home for him in South Carolina's secondary in some way, if he can earn a starting nod with a solid performance this spring.

Coach Spurrier's Toughest Task

Turning the corner, again.

What Spurrier did from 2010-2013 at South Carolina was nothing short of remarkable. He turned a downtrodden program into an SEC East power, winning the division in 2010 and posting the program's first three 11-win seasons in its history from 2011-2013.

That window isn't locked, but Missouri's success, Georgia's talent and the rebuilding efforts at Tennessee and Florida have it closed—with perhaps a subtle breeze squeezing through the cracks.

The window looks like it will become locked in a hurry with Tennessee's consistent recruiting success and the never-ending stream of talented players available for the Gators.

There's pressure to win now in Columbia, and the quest to do that begins on Tuesday.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.

"Hulk," even, which is why the 4-star defensive tackle's nickname fits so well. At 6'5" and 361 pounds, there aren't many other nicknames better. He said he laughed when he first heard it come from the Texas Longhorns coaches.

But when Jones (first name pronounced ken-DELL) is on the football field, he's every adjective mentioned and more. It's all business. Hulk smash, if you will.

"When I get on that field," Jones said, and then he paused and shook his head.

Jones off the field, however, is business in a different way. He's the big kid, the gentle giant who likes to have fun with friends and is one of the first to defuse conflict. He loves dealing with confrontation in a professional manner.

So it shouldn't be a surprise to some that Jones, the stud lineman from Shoemaker High School in Killeen, Texas, has a major interest in pursuing a career in psychology upon graduation.

It shouldn't be a surprise, but it is in many ways. It's just hard for many to see someone his size as a psychologist or counselor—and not something where he's using his brute strength, explosiveness and a wow factor among like-minded individuals.

There are no rules against Jones being a stud defensive lineman and an equally talented psychologist, and he's looking to fulfill all of his dreams. For now, goal No. 1 is to graduate high school.

A close second, however, is to dominate the football field. Jones showcased his talent Sunday at The Opening Dallas regional, bullying his way through offensive linemen to not only earn the event's defensive lineman MVP but also earn an invitation to The Opening nationals this summer in Oregon.

"This is my first time [at The Opening regional], so it's cool to get invited to Oregon," Jones said. "I wanted to come out and compete like everyone else. There was a lot of competition."

Jones' father, Kendell Sr., watched his son shine at the regional. A former football player at John McDonogh High School in New Orleans, he wants his only son—and the second of four children—to aim for the stars with his goals.

Whether that involves playing in the NFL or being psychologist of the year doesn't matter.

"I'm taken back by everything," Kendell Sr. said. "To me, it's all coming full circle. I played football and didn't play in college. His granddad played and didn't go to college. With him, I want to make sure that's priority.

"In the next five or 10 years, I'd like to see him doing whatever he likes to do. If it's football, still in school or graduated, it doesn't matter to me. As long as he gets a degree of some sort, he's all right."

At 361 pounds, Kendell Jr. is extremely muscular and slim in the waist. His power alone makes him out to be a primary nose guard candidate for the right schools.

And there are several schools after him. Jones has reported offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, LSU, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Michigan and Miami, but the interest for a player who bench presses 420 pounds, squats 600, deadlifts 610 and power cleans 335 is nationwide.

Jones' 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions favor Texas, with LSU and Baylor also in the hunt, but he'll be the first to admit that his "options are really wide open" when it comes to recruiting. So what's the first thing the nation's No. 61 player overall and the No. 11 defensive tackle looks for in a winning program?

"Good academics," he said. "That and good leadership."

Jones added that he wants to play for a football team that will persevere, particularly in the fourth quarter. He also wants to see immediate playing time and receive a lot of tutelage in the process.

A degree, he said, is evident. Postgraduate degrees are in his future, too.

"It'd be cool to have that doctor title before my name," he said.

To be huge in stature and within the psychology profession...why not?

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. Player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles

Two Temple University football players have been charged with assault in relation to an incident in Philadelphia two months ago.

According to 6ABC.com, starting left tackle Dion Dawkins and defensive lineman Haason Reddick are accused of attacking a fellow Temple student on Jan. 17 and leaving him with a broken orbital bone and a concussion.

Per Jennifer Joyce of Fox 29, both Dawkins and Reddick have been suspended by the football team:

6ABC.com also passed along a statement from Temple University regarding the situation and the status of the players:

Temple University is aware of allegations of improper conduct by two of its student-athletes at an off-campus location in January. The university has, and will continue, to fully cooperate with the Philadelphia Police Department in its investigation and will take appropriate actions outlined in the Student Conduct Code. The two students have been suspended from football team activities pending further investigation.

Dawkins and Reddick are set to enter their junior seasons with the Owls, but their status for 2015 and beyond is now in question.

Hopes are high for Temple during the upcoming campaign after improving from 2-10 to 6-6 last season, but expectations may be tempered if the program decides to move forward without a pair of key players in Dawkins and Reddick.

Tuesday marks the beginning of the 2015 season as the Bulldogs begin spring practice. There’s a lot of optimism from fans coming into spring practice, just like any other year. But there will be some questions the Bulldogs will need to address when spring practice begins.

There are a lot of changes with the team this season, and it’s essential that everyone is on the same page so the Bulldogs can reach the goal of winning the SEC in December. But if the Bulldogs don’t have a successful spring, then the fall won’t be as great as it could and should be.

Spring practice is about to begin for the Texas Longhorns, who can hopefully answer some of the burning questions about the status of the team.

For Charlie Strong, this spring is all about discovering an offensive identity and finding out what he has in last year's backups. He has a lot of talented freshmen set to join the program, but fielding a team full of first-year players is hardly the way to improve on a 6-7 campaign.

The Horns need a quarterback, a concrete offensive line and some veterans they can trust. And they need all of them to emerge to some degree before summer workouts.

Spring practice begins in full for the Virginia Tech Hokies next week. It's the unofficial beginning of the new season, and many questions the fans have regarding the offseason are answered in spring practice.

For head coach Frank Beamer, it will be his 29th season in charge of his alma mater. Many things have changed in recent years, though. Beamer, who is often resistant to change, has shaken up his coaching staff considerably over the past few years.

On the field, results have been mixed. After eight straight seasons with 10 wins or more, Tech has won seven, eight and seven games over the last three seasons, respectively.

With spring practice set to begin next week, here are four burning questions Virginia Tech faces this spring.

The Michigan football program was in the midst of a resurgence this offseason after Jim Harbaugh took the coaching job, but it received some unfortunate news Monday regarding offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, who has been suspended by Michigan for violating his probation.

Angelique S. Chengelis of The Detroit News passed along a statement from Michigan on the developing situation:

Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com reported the following details on Glasgow's probation violation:

Senior offensive lineman Graham Glasgow admitted to a violation of his probation Monday after registering a .086 Breathalyzer test Sunday morning, per 15th District Court records.

Glasgow was given one year of probation on July 14, 2014 after entering a guilty plea to operating while visibly impaired. He was originally arrested on March 15, 2014.

Glasgow admitted guilt in court Monday, and his probation was increased by six months.

Interestingly, Baumgardner noted that Harbaugh recently promoted Glasgow to the top center spot for spring practice. Whether this development changes that moving forward remains to be seen.

This is not the first time Glasgow has gotten into trouble. Baumgardner delved into more specifics, including how Glasgow was suspended for part of spring practice in 2014 and the first game of the season.

The Michigan football program has plenty of momentum on its side with the Harbaugh move and certainly has notions of making it back to a bowl game this season.

This will definitely be unwelcome news in Ann Arbor in what has otherwise been a solid offseason.

Two weeks ago, former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said that in order for Jim Harbaugh to be successful at Michigan, he's going to have to successfully recruit the state of Ohio.

Apparently Harbaugh was listening.

The new Wolverines head coach sent shockwaves through the Ohio high school coaching community on Friday when he announced he had hired Rick Finotti as his director of football operations. The former head coach at St. Edward's in Lakewood, Ohio, Finotti led the Eagles to a 62-15 record and two state championships—including one in 2014—in his six seasons at the Ohio powerhouse just west of Cleveland.

The director of football operations isn't traditionally a recruiting position in a football program, but that shouldn't stop Finotti's hiring from increasing Michigan's presence in the Buckeye State.

"He gets you a foot in the door. You’re not looking for a guy necessarily that’s going to deliver kids for you on a silver platter," Rivals.com recruiting analyst Marc Givler told Bleacher Report. "You’re kind of looking for a guy where, ‘OK, this guy has coaching connections in Northeast Ohio, a lot of friends in the coaching community in Northeast Ohio, and when we go in that door, we have a familiar face, a mutual friend, a mutual contact now that can kind of help bridge that gap."

Givler agrees with Tressel's premise that in order for the Wolverines to return to national prominence, they'll need the help of Ohio. From Bo Schembechler to Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson to Harbaugh himself, history is littered with examples of Ohio natives playing key roles in Michigan reaching its highest of heights.

But while Harbaugh was born in Toledo, he spent his college career in Ann Arbor, NFL career across the country and coaching career on the West Coast. Despite his infamous bonding trips to Youngstown during two-game road trips with the 49ers, Harbaugh's ties in Ohio are limited and could be even harder to create with the recent success of Urban Meyer at Ohio State.

The hiring of Finotti could help fix that and will only add to a staff that also includes defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, who both played and coached at Bowling Green. Finotti's presence should especially help in Northeast Ohio, which typically produces the state's top talents, many of whom have come from his now-former employer.

"He’s always going to be a big name at St. Ed’s for what he’s done there and that program is probably not going to stop producing talent anytime soon," Givler said. "Any connection into that program is going to be valuable.”

Harbaugh's hiring of Finotti is just the latest splash he's made since taking over the Michigan program nearly three months ago and provides additional insight into a recruiting strategy that hasn't been hard to figure out. Upon arriving in Ann Arbor, the former Wolverines quarterback unsuccessfully attempted to lure recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow from Kentucky, before hiring Chris Partridge as his recruiting operations coordinator.

Partridge, like Finotti, comes to Michigan from the high school ranks. At powerhouse Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey, he coached current Wolverines defensive back and former 5-star prospect Jabrill Peppers, as well as defensive tackle Rashan Gary, the top-rated player in the 2016 class.

"I definitely think there’s some strategy involved there with recruiting," Givler said of the hirings of Partridge and Finotti. “I think he wants to hit the ground running."

Thus far, Harbaugh's recruiting impact at Michigan has been minimal, at least on the surface with the Wolverines only possessing two commitments in their 2016 class, which currently ranks 39th in the country. As for recruiting Ohio, Harbaugh seems to be taking his time there too, with ElevenWarriors.com director of recruiting Jeremy Birmingham telling Bleacher Report, "Harbaugh has not stepped foot in Ohio at a single high school since he’s been hired.

"So I guess whatever in-road he can make, you don’t blame the guy for doing so."

Givler, however, has a theory on Harbaugh's recruiting tactics and slower-than-expected pace, noting that Michigan started its spring practice on Feb. 24, which came at least one week—and in some cases, two or three weeks—before most other schools started their spring sessions.

With a new staff and so many unknowns on the Wolverines roster, Harbaugh is admittedly still in the evaluation phase of his process, with spring recruiting still on the horizon.

"I think that was strategic," Givler said of Michigan's early spring practice start. "I think they just said, ‘We don’t know what we have, we have highly recruited guys that were recruited highly coming out of high school, but were they mis-ranked? Were they mis-evaluated? Do we have talent at this position or that position?’

"I think they’re trying to answer all of those questions and then decide, ‘OK, now we know what we have, the spring evaluation period starts in a few weeks, now that we know what we have, this is how we’re going to attack it.’ It’s been a little slower than most people expected from a recruiting start, but I think there’s a reason for that."

Once that time comes for Harbaugh to hit the trail hard, he certainly seems well equipped with the likes of Partridge and Finotti aiding his efforts. Givler also noted Finotti is a great football mind who could help with X's and O's, game-planning and building a winning culture and could eventually transition into a role as a position coach on Harbaugh's staff down the line.

But regardless of what Finotti's job title winds up, his connection to the Buckeye State can't be overlooked. Both Tressel and history have suggested as much, as any success found by the new Michigan regime will come with an inevitable ingredient.

"Michigan has to have success in Ohio," Givler said. "Whether hiring Finotti is going to be the key to that or not, they need to make moves to make sure they have success in Ohio. I can’t point to a time in their history where they’ve been nationally elite and didn’t have good Ohio players on their team."

Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten Lead Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.

March Madness is upon us, which means for the next few weeks college basketball takes over the sports world. This is a wondrous experience for hoops fans, but if you're not big on the game and prefer your college athletes playing football, it might get a little annoying hearing nonstop talk about brackets, buzzer-beaters and Cinderellas.

Unless, that is, you find a way to make it interesting, like envisioning whether certain college basketball stars could hack it on the gridiron.

Over the years a handful of athletes have managed to play both football and basketball in college, and do it successfully, such as Tony Gonzalez at California and Charlie Ward at Florida State. Plenty more starred in both at the high school level but then had to make a choice, and it wouldn't be surprising to hear that some wished they could still double up.

We've picked 25 current college basketball standouts who would probably make pretty darn good football players, too. Check it out and then let us know if we missed any in the comments section.

To be a great tight end, you need a distinct set of skills. One must be able to block, run and catch.

Kaden Smith, the No. 2-ranked tight end in the country, per 247Sports' composite rankings, has it all. Bleacher Report teamed up with the talented tight end as he broke the world record for most one-handed catches in one minute.

Check out the video above to see some serious athleticism.

Special thanks to Coach David Weaver and Marcus High School Athletics.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After a busy week in which the Irish staff dished out double-digit offers, Notre Dame football was quieter this past week, instead focusing on lining up visitors for the upcoming junior day.

Still, the Irish extended an offer at the all-important quarterback position, and other recruiting happenings rose to the surface.

Each week, we’ll be keeping tabs on the new scholarship offers the Notre Dame coaches send out, tracking the recruiting process as the Irish focus their attention toward the classes of 2016, 2017 and maybe even 2018.

Hunter Johnson

Irish head coach Brian Kelly has emphasized the importance of recruiting the state of Indiana. In targeting the quarterback position in the class of 2017, Kelly and the Irish staff were able to stay in state and offer Brownsburg, Indiana, native Hunter Johnson.

Johnson is the No. 1 pro-style quarterback and No. 9 overall prospect in the Top 247 and landed his Irish offer while visiting South Bend on Sunday, according to 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong.

“We got to the school, and the first thing we were going to do was tour the stadium, and they brought me and my family into the locker room area, and they had a thing written that Coach Kelly had sent out because he wasn’t there today,” Johnson told Wiltfong.

Per Wiltfong, Johnson and new Irish offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford had previously spoken multiple times, but Sunday marked their first time meeting in person.

“The offense they run is similar to what we run at our high school,” Johnson told Wiltfong. “I think Coach Sanford and I get along really well. I think we’re similar people. I think I could play for him and Coach Kelly, and I think it would be a good situation.”

Earlier in the weekend, Johnson took an unofficial visit to Northwestern. The 6'2 ½", 197-pounder also has spring visits scheduled for North Carolina, North Carolina State, Penn State and Tennessee, as well as a return trip to Northwestern. Other offers for the signal-caller include Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Cincinnati, North Carolina and Northwestern.

Updates

In addition to Johnson’s scholarship offer, Notre Dame’s staff stayed busy lining up visits for the coming weeks and months.

Class of 2016 linebacker Lokeni Toailoa announced his top seven schools Saturday, and Notre Dame made the cut.

According to Wiltfong, Toailoa is scheduled to announce his commitment March 21. The No. 1 inside linebacker and No. 57 overall prospect in the class received an offer from the Irish in early May but has not visited campus.

Class of 2016 offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, the No. 11 offensive tackle and No. 82 overall player, has had an April 10 visit to Notre Dame lined up. He’s also expected to visit Ohio State the following week before announcing a decision.

Spring practice begins Wednesday for Notre Dame, and the Irish will host a bevy of recruits just a few days later for a junior day. Wiltfong and Loy provide the full list of expected attendees, which currently sits around 30 strong.

With Selection Sunday past us, sports fans in America are thrilled about the NCAA tournament. We’re making our upset selections, predicting our Sweet 16 and trying to figure out if anyone can take down Kentucky and John Calipari.

At the same time, spring football is ramping up across the nation. While we watch March Madness unfold this weekend, it brings up an important question: Which teams have the best combination of men’s basketball and football programs? It isn’t the easiest combination, when you think about it. Here’s a look at which programs pull off the dual-sport dance best.

Atlanta defensive back Marlon Character isn't quite ready to announce his collegiate commitment, but the 4-star prospect is focused on five favorites.

Character named Ole Miss, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia Tech his "top five" during a conversation with Jake Rowe of 247Sports. He also shared his intentions to use official visits at each university.

Despite identifying each member of the group as a desirable destination, he admitted that it's an even playing field at this point.

"I haven't put them in order yet," Character told Rowe. "They switch every day."

The 6'0", 170-pound Grady High School junior is rated ninth nationally among safeties in 247Sports' composite rankings, though several scouts see him projecting at cornerback in college. His skills quickly caught attention from marquee college programs, resulting in a scholarship list that also includes Auburn, Arkansas and Ohio State.

Character recently provided a glimpse of what it's like to be on the receiving end of so much FBS interest, spotlighting piles of recruiting mail on Twitter:

Here's a closer look at the five programs that stand out to Character.

Georgia

Considering Character's status as a top-tier Georgia recruit, it's no surprise to see the Bulldogs firmly in contention for his services. Coach Mark Richt secured 11 in-state defenders in his 2015 class, including safeties Kirby Choates and Rashad Roundtree.

Character's proximity to the program and rapport with Richt's staff could ultimately give Georgia an edge. The Bulldogs currently lead in his 247Sports Crystal Ball with 71 percent of expert commitment predictions.

"I have a great relationship with all the coaches," he told Rowe. "It's just that every time I talk to Georgia it is always good news and that they want to get me up there."

Richt has assembled a top-10 class early in the 2016 cycle, headlined by No. 1 quarterback prospect Jacob Eason, but just two of the team's seven commitments have come from defensive recruits.

Alabama

Head coach Nick Saban perennially proves that he can pluck premier talent from anywhere in America, evidenced by 2015 signatures from 5-star New Jersey cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick and 5-star California dual-threat quarterback Blake Barnett. That haul also included elite safety talent from Florida (Ronnie Harrison) and Texas (Deionte Thompson), with a 4-star at the position enrolling early from each state.

Character would encounter an incredible level of competition for playing time in the Crimson Tide secondary, where top newcomers played sparingly throughout last season. After landing four 5-star defensive backs over the past two cycles, Saban also holds a longtime commitment from 5-star Louisiana cornerback Shyheim Carter in his 2016 class.

Alabama extended an offer to Character early in his junior season. However, it appears the Tide may be falling behind in this pursuit due to a lack of personal contact.

"I haven't been talking to Alabama much lately because my recruiting coach for them, coach (Lance) Thompson left for Auburn," he told Rowe.

Ole Miss

The Rebels are off to a tremendous start on the 2016 recruiting trail, carrying 10 commitments in a class that rates third nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings. The team's "Landshark" mentality on defense attracts plenty of attention from key prospects, and you can count Character in the mix.

Ole Miss enjoyed a breakout campaign last season, which was often spearheaded by its defensive stinginess. Coach Hugh Freeze is attempting to fine-tune his team's offensive attack, so commitments from 5-star quarterback/wide receiver tandem Shea Patterson and DeKaylin Metcalf should make a significant impact.

The Rebels are in need of some retooling on defense too and remain in search of pledges on that side of the ball, though former Alabama defensive tackle commit Benito Jones brings clout to the trenches. Ole Miss still hasn't secured a defensive-back pledge in its 2016 class.

South Carolina

Yet another SEC squad in the picture, South Carolina seems to be among the strongest contenders on this list. The Gamecocks hosted Character in late January, and he's seen the program play in person multiple times.

Consider the Gamecocks as Georgia's primary threat at this stage of the pursuit. A personal visit from Spurrier played a key role in securing South Carolina's spot on this list.

"It really did something for me and my opinion of the school," Character told Rowe.

Co-defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward has also spent significant time with Character, serving as a primary recruiter.

Virginia Tech

The Hokies are an outlier on this list as the lone non-SEC team. Frank Beamer and his staff have done quite well with 2016 defensive backs, earning pledges from four prospects who figure to play roles in the secondary.

Assistant coach Torrian Gray has been the catalyst in Virginia Tech's recruitment of Character. His effectiveness should keep the Hokies involved throughout this process and could eventually push the team atop this list.

"(Gray) always makes me want to commit right then and there," Character told Rowe.

Look for Virginia Tech to work toward a campus visit in the near future with hopes of locking in a return trip during next season.

Texas A&M and Auburn need to fix their defenses, LSU's quarterback situation has to be rectified and Alabama's pass defense can't continue to give up plays in chunks and maintain its perch atop the SEC.

Those are the 40,000-foot issues surrounding the entire offseason, but what specifically needs to be solved during spring practice?

Our picks, based on gaping holes, personnel and pressure, are in this slideshow.